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1. Speeches of Scaevola and Crassus.

Background:
This is a famous trial where two talented lawyers fought against each other in an important case about the validity of testaments. It's classic case of Roman oratory as well.

On one side there was L. Crassus, a celebrated speaker in courts and very influental poltician. On the other side Q. Mucius Scaevola, the father of law-teaching in Rome and foremost lawyer of his era. Scaevola opened by presenting the case and horrid scenario of what would happen if strict letter of the law was not followed, what would happen if we would start guessing the meaning of the deceased. The jury and audience were overwhealmed by awe for his knowledge of the law and ability to show clearly and in logical manner how the case was and the importance of the letter of the law.

On the next day it was the turn of Crassus to make his speech. He started with a story about a boy who found a small piece of a boat from the beach and got obsession to "fix it" by building rest of the boat around it. He then moved to say that this what Scaevola did when he grabbed a small piece of information and wanted to make a court-case of it. With this start and following hints and allegations he made fun of the strict Scaevola and made the jury and audience to laugh. After getting their attention in positive way he moved on to say what was his interpretation of the will of the deceased. And noted that just about everyone made their testaments according to the same formula, which proved that it was proper way to do it and had always been. By these he won the consent of the jury and audience. At last he spoke about justice and what is right and wrong and dangerous it would be to by-pass the will of the deceased. He asked rhetorically from Scaevola that what sort of power was Scaevola after, because it seemed that no testament could be made without approval of his. By presenting himself stern and austere when speaking about the case and as fun and witty when making jokes he won the admiration of the audience and won the case by it.

1. Rufus in the Smyrna.

2. Rufus preparing for the trial, debating about how to arrange his defence. Also present C. Mucius, perhaps C. Cotta and either L. Crassus or M. Antonius.

Background:

Publius Rutilius Rufus was born in 158 BCE and a Consul in 105. He was a austere and strict man, also sharp in his tongue and followed stoic life style. He was well learned in Greek literature and Cicero calls him as "almost perfect stoic orator". His style was then sharp, logical and to the point, but lacked flourishing quality that was needed in order to gain popularity with great audiences.

Rufus was a legate (senior assistant) of governor of richest of provinces, Asia. His superior, Q. Mucius Scaevola (pontifex), started a cleaning at the corrputed provincial government which greatly diminished the money flow to the rich and powerful equesterian class in Rome. Rufus played a key part in this operation and as result got enemies from the equesterian class.

Rufus was consequently charged in court in Rome for corruption and using his position as legate for extortion - for the very same crimes he had fought to prevent during the cleansing of provincial government! He was charged by members of publicani.

Publicani were kind of companies that were formed by wealthy equesterians to handle public contracts, mostly in the provinces, of tax collection etc. The deals usually were such that the state (represented by governor of the province or the senate in Rome) made a contract for number of years for fixed sum and publicani-company got right to arrange the tax collection and extort as much as they liked from the populace as long as they paid the agreed sum for the state. This system lead of course very often into corruption.

In any case everyone knew at the time that Rufus' charge was of complete rubbish. He as stoic refused the help of powerful patrons, even most famous orators of his time L. Crassus and M. Antonius, on the grounds that stoics believed that every man should stand for himself. Besides he had the truth and evidence on his side. Only Q. Mucius and C. Cotta spoke for him in the trial.

He was convicted and found guilty and sent into exile to the Province of Asia (which he allegedly had been robbing). This conviction came because the jurys of the courts were formed by members of the equesterian class, and they had very little sympathy towards Rufus. Rufus went exile to the city of Smyrna in Asia and was made a honorary citizen there and lived long an peaceful life there concentrating into writing about history and matters of law.

Some ideas:

1. The fatal mistake of M. Aemilius Scaurus. Scaurus (Curule Aedile in 122?, Praetor in 119?, Consul in 115, Censor in 109, Augur 123-89, Princeps Senatus 115, 108, 102, 97, 92, 89) was the leading member of nobilitas in the 90's BCE. He made a serious mistake by supporting M. Livius Drusus. The dialogue could be a one where old Scaurus realises that he has made a mistake and during the dialogue Drusus rises from apprentice to master and leaves old Scaurus devastated.

2. The death of M. Livius Drusus.

Background (from Wikipedia):

The younger Marcus Livius Drusus, son of Marcus Livius Drusus, was tribune of the plebeians in 91 BC. In the manner of Gaius Gracchus, he set out with comprehensive plans, but his aim was to strengthen senatorial rule. He removed the jury courts from the jurisdiction of the Equestrian in retaliation for their unjustified condemnation of Publius Rutilius Rufus in 92 BC and replaced it with a mixed jury of Senators and Knights. He passed a bill that would have doubled the number of Senators from roughly 300 to 600, thus placating the most powerful of the Knights who wished to become senators or have some of their family become senators. To gain support from the plebeians he set up a commission to grant them more land, both around Rome and in new colonies (which was one of only two that was approved by the Senate during the late republic,) and reduced the price of grain which he proposed to pay for by using devaluation of the currency.

Up to this point Drusus managed to have the support of many of the leading senators including Marcus Aemilius Scaurus and Gaius Marius. However, Drusus wanted to grant citizenship rights to the Italian allies. This was vehemently opposed by many, he gradually lost support from the Senate, the equites, the Roman population who did not want the Italians to become citizens, and wealthy Italian landlords who did not want to lose their land. The opposition was led by the Consul Lucius Marcius Philippus and by Drusus's brother-in-law, the Praetor Servilius Caepio. It was revealed that the whole of non Roman Italy had sworn an oath to enter into his clientele if he managed to enfranchise them which would have given Drusus considerable power.

In political retaliation for his proposal to grant citizenship to the Italian allies, his previous bills were declared invalid on religious technicalities by the Senate led by Phillipus. Drusus refused to use his tribunician veto to prevent this from happening. Soon after this, he was assassinated. Soon after his assassination, the Italian allies revolted, starting the Social War of 91-88 BC.
His adopted son was Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus, father of the Empress Livia.

1. Scipio at the fateful night
Scipio at his home after a day of violence and killing of Tiberius. In the dark hours of the night he sats down, is doing his washing or eating some fruits and meets his wife.

2. Cornelia with her children
Cornelia with her three surviving children meeting at a dinner and discussing. Tiberius is about to get elected as a tribune, Gaius is younger, Sempronia is married to Scipio. Cornelia feels that everything is fine in the world, but doesn't realise that fate of her children is set already by their devotion to each other and by the fact that Tiberius is serious in his political aims.

3. Making of Gaius
Gaius Gracchus after the murder of his brother meets his sister Sempronia and together they swore revenge.

Background:
Cornelia was a daughter of P. Cornelius Scipio Africanus (236-183 BCE), who was the legendary commander of Roman forces at the 2nd Punic war. She married Ti. Sempronius Gracchus (consul of 177) and they had 12 children of which 3 survived into adulthood: Tiberius, Gaius and Sempronia. Cornelia was respected in her times by her dedication for her family, upbringing of her children and as learned woman and celebrated letter-writer. After her husband died in 154 she did no re-marry, even while she got offers from the highest elite of Roman republic, even from the king of Egypt, Ptolemy VIII.

Her sons were to become revolutionary tribunes of plebs and were killed consequently in violences erupted from their actions. Tiberius being the most famous of ancient Romans speaking for the people against the elite.

Her daughter Sempronia married P. Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus (185-129), a man adopted by brother of her mother, his father was L. Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus (228-160). This Scipio was the famous Scipio of so-called Scipionic-circle, but also a succesful military commander and politician. Scipio was a member of highest elite and his politics were conservative to say the least. He lead the mob in the violences that caused the death of Tiberius, a brother of his wife. Scipio himself died in mysterious circumstances and Sempronia was among the suspects, other suspects being Gaius and famous politician C. Papirius Carbo. However the death was never proved to be unnatural.

Hey you Snowsurfers out there, sorry for the recent information blockade... But we're rapidly approaching principal photography so there just isn't much time!

Anyway, I wanted to share the latest super-quickly made artwork depicting some members of the brat pack - VIRGIL as played by australian Angus McGruther, DUKE portrayed by Ricky Watson from the USA and BARBARA - who will be brought to life by the well-know (and wonderfully beautiful) German actress Jana Pallaske.

Enjoy!